WALLED CITIES & ISLAND CHURCHES

Your journey begins in Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, and you’ll fly in before picking up your car for your self-drive adventure. A beautiful coastal city with a walled medieval old town, Split is much more than just a gateway to the Dalmatian Islands. Diocletian’s Palace, built by the Roman emperor of the same name in the fourth century, is amazingly well-preserved and comprises around half of the city’s old town. Your hotel for two nights, the incredible Vestibul Palace, is situated in the part of the palace where the emperor himself had his quarters. Other historical attractions include the Cathedral of St. Domnius and the third-oldest synagogue in Europe, which dates from the 16^th century. Split is also blessed with beautiful beaches, with Bacvice a popular choice for families.

Taking a ferry to Vela Luka on the western tip of Korcula island, you’ll then drive to Korcula town for the next stop on your Croatian self-drive adventure. Among the greenest of the Adriatic islands, Korcula is picturesque and covered in vineyards and olive groves. Korcula town, a centuries-old fortified citadel which juts out into the sea, is beautiful and home to some spectacular buildings such as St. Mark’s Cathedral. Culture vultures will love it here; the Town Museum tells the story of Korcula through the centuries, while the Icon Museum houses several Byzantine religious icons and ritual artefacts. You can enjoy fantastic views of Korcula from the Marco Polo Tower, connected to a house said to be the one-time home of the famous traveller. You’ll stay for two nights at Hotel Korsal.

Taking the ferry from Korcula to Orebic, you’ll then drive to Dubrovnik, the jewel in Croatia’s crown. The architectural wonders here include the medieval city walls, the Cathedral of the Assumption, and the Franciscan Monastery and Museum. Your home for the next two nights is Villa Dubrovnik, a stylish retreat set into the rocky cliffs on the most magical stretch of Dalmatian coast. The hotel’s pristine white architecture provides a stunning contrast to the rocky landscape and emerald green waters of Adriatic.

After two nights in Dubrovnik, you’ll take to the road again for the final stop on your Croatian journey: Kotor. Tucked away in an indented bay in southwestern Montenegro, this is a classic ref-roofed Adriatic port town and a fashionable port of call for summer yachting holidays. Sights in the beautiful old town include the Romanesque St. Tryphon’s Cathedral and the Sea Gate, the main entrance to the town which was built in 1555. The story of Kotor’s maritime history is told in the Maritime Museum of Montenegro, housed in a beautiful 18^th-century palace. You’ll spend three nights at Hotel Astoria, a boutique hotel situated in the 13^th-century Buca Palace, in the centre of Kotor’s old town and a short walk to the beach. After three nights in Kotor, your Croatian self-drive adventure comes to an end, and you’ll drive to Dubrovnik for your flight home.